Antidepressants and Their Effects

These flashcards cover key concepts related to antidepressants, anxiety medications, and the effects of various neurotransmitters and conditions related to mental health.

Clinical Depression

A more intense and longer-lasting condition than 'the blues,' characterized by significant changes in mood and behavior.

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

A mental disorder requiring at least 2 weeks of depressed mood and loss of interest in most activities.

Mood Disorders and Medical Conditions

25-40% or higher of individuals with certain medical conditions also experience mood disorders.

Mania

A state characterized by increased energy, grandiosity, and decreased need for sleep.

Endogenous Depression

Type of depression without an obvious external cause.

Reactive Depression

Depression that occurs in response to an external event, such as loss or trauma.

Antidepressants

Medications that are thought to work by increasing neurotransmitters like serotonin and noradrenaline.

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

A class of antidepressants that inhibit the enzyme monoamine oxidase to increase the activity of monoamines.

Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)

A type of antidepressant that increases the functional activity of norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin.

Withdrawal Symptoms

Symptoms that may occur when discontinuing antidepressants, including irritability, anxiety, and fatigue.

Substance P

A neuropeptide with antidepressant effects that do not primarily involve serotonin or norepinephrine.

Wellbutrin

Also known as Bupropion, an antidepressant that primarily affects norepinephrine and dopamine.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

Antidepressants that work by selectively inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin, increasing its availability.

Serotonin Syndrome

A potentially life-threatening condition caused by excess serotonin, characterized by agitation, confusion, and autonomic instability.

Benzodiazepines

A class of anxiolytic drugs that enhance the effects of the neurotransmitter GABA.

Chlordiazepoxide

The first true anxiolytic, commonly known as Librium.

Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome

A rare but life-threatening condition associated with neuroleptic (antipsychotic) medication.

Alcohol Dehydrogenase

The liver enzyme primarily responsible for the metabolism of alcohol in the body.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)

A range of effects caused by alcohol exposure during fetal development, leading to distinct physical and cognitive features.

Dopamine D2 Receptors

Receptors primarily targeted by first-generation antipsychotic medications to reduce psychotic symptoms.

Cocaine and Alcohol Interaction

When combined in the body, they form cocaethylene, which can enhance the effects of both substances.